Booster Days and the after-fest party at local bars opened with both a bang and a fizzle, depending on what location you were referencing. But next-day, come early afternoon, everyone was getting ready to pick up the tempo again, as boats were lined all through the St. Croix River as the best place to watch the fireworks, with not a lot of space between — despite high-water restrictions that limited access via boat launches. Then an ambulance came roaring past. The Fourth of July and a mishap? Nooo, really?
Back to First Street in the hub of it all, the guy in front of me in his car by the main intersection — you know, the one by the perpetual Rotary Club cool car for raffle — was waving his arm eastward with a glee that seemed out of place. I eventually decided to pass him, thinking he might have a stalled vehicle. I looked back and he still grinned broadly. Questioning, I turned up Walnut Street to get to the main drag, and saw that despite signs, there was no road construction. Then it hit me, this do-gooder was trying to warn me and others about the impending traffic jam ahead by the Phipps Center For The Arts. Lastly, the 15-minute parking spaces mid-day on The Fourth were being mostly honored by drivers, even those from Minnesota. Later in the weekend, not so much. But later when the rain started sprinkling, it brought out the plastic ponchos and umbrellas, and even despite the warm weather, a full-fledged parka. Some people, but not a large amount, setting out blankets for the Saturday parade, were ahead of the game, but they then got rained on, and these showers no doubt rinsed away the sometimes coy “ads” that have been drawn up in chalk on the pavement. Such rain-relief garb could also be seen worn by the street musician halfway up Locust Street. And across the way at The Postmark Grill, there were two levels of protection, the lower big umbrellas and the even bigger upper awnings. There was something much like this unveiled at Pier 500, right next-door to the Booster Days fest itself.
— The flag hoisted in the back of a truck revving through North Hudson had a pole that was, I swear, 15 feet high, and we presume the flag itself contributed to that reach because of its 50 stars, added as the country grew, that were flapping at times upward in the breeze. Talk about the possibility for wind lag, but after all, this was The Fourth. However, in another mile there would be the railroad bridge on the other side of Lake Mallalieu, which can’t accommodate a vehicle more than 13-feet, 11-inches in height. To anti-quote Colin Kapernick, Why didn’t we just stay with having 13 stars?
— When talking about sports cars on holiday, although still being put into service and driven, there were a couple of them so small and sleek where … well … let’s just put it this way, you could probably fit four of them at once under that railroad bridge. Two more of them could be seen in that vicinity the next day, one cruising north, and the other south to Booster Days. And then there were those two that were totally decked out in big decorative decals, but only on the front hood. As a gift, like Doubling Down after Dad’s Day.
— The eagle decals were spread all over town, on two Cadillac-like cars that were again, longer than tall, one bird being the centerpiece with long wing-like extensions that actually were stripes from one end to another, and the other with those stripes going the whole nine yards in width, literally.
— Booster Days isn’t the only game in town attracting people to and from Minnesota. One of the biggest golf tournaments in the Twin Cities in years is being held this weekend in Blaine, and front and center through it has been Minnesconsin’s own Tom Lehman. You read that right, both states. You see Lehman designed the championship-style Troy Burne course just south of Hudson, as well as having such a hand in the course in Blaine. It seems to have worked, as he was well under par early on and in contention. But this tourney is big enough that yes, you might see others than just Lehman here in town. So if you are dancing at Dick’s and happen to see someone wearing a very natty checkered beret …
— Another game in town, via the wonders of satellite TV, is the World Cup. The last time around with such soccer, there was a guy at Buffalo Wild Wings who said he saw his face on the big screen above five times. That’s about as often as you’d see the goalie pictured front and center.
— Also about TV, Judge Judy has now sentenced herself to retirement, according to stuff I read online, which may or may not be as accurate as a court docket. And that’s questionable too, Reminds me of an episode where a defendant, maybe bolstered by liquid courage gone awry, called her ma’am and sir in the same sentence. Maybe hit the strip club if you can’t tell the difference. Can we recommend the new and much improved Cajun Club, which is only a quarter-mile up the highway from one of the best places on the Wisconsin side to view the “flashing” show, and take in another such show and keep the party going after the Stillwater fireworks, if you pass on the even nearer Next Stop Bar, a pattern that was evident again on Thursday night.